Four generations, one county.

G. D. Houtman & Son, Inc. was founded by its namesake, Gustave D. Houtman, in 1945. Gus Houtman was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island in 1894 and was a graduate of Brown University. He moved to the Delaware County area in the 1930s, practising all phases of civil engineering.

Following the Second World War, Gus opened a civil engineering and land surveying firm with his son, John E. Houtman. The firm has been a fixture in Media ever since, providing the South Eastern Pennsylvania region with civil engineering and land surveying services.

Gus Houtman actively practised all disciplines of civil engineering. He designed over fourteen county bridges spanning the major streams within Delaware County, many of which are still functioning today.

Significant accomplishments during his leadership included the design, layout and supervision of the earthen dam for the Foote Mineral Company in North Carolina; the design survey and construction layout for the Media By-pass; the structural design of the Media Parking Garage; the reconstruction of the Rose Valley Sewage Treatment Plant; and the role of municipal engineer for over fifteen Delaware County municipalities and the Media Municipal Authority.

Gus was instrumental in the Media Water Company's decision to become one of the first water suppliers to inject fluoride into the water supply. He was also very active politically, serving as president of Media Borough Council for many years.

Although Gus practised a wide variety of civil engineering disciplines, the firm is widely recognised for its site engineering, land surveying and municipal engineering services.

G.D. Houtman & Son has performed countless boundary and topographic surveys, subdivision plans, street, sanitary and storm sewer design, and environmental and other state permitting — work that has resulted in the addition of over 25,000 residential dwellings in the South Eastern Pennsylvania region.

The firm was managed by Gus Houtman and his son, John E. Houtman (Jack), through the early 1970s. As Gus's professional activity slowed, the firm was managed by Jack and Gus's nephew, Edouard N. Houtman.

Presently, the four sons of Ed Houtman — Edward, Matthew, Gustave and John — provide the engineering, surveying and design expertise for the firm. G. D. Houtman & Son, Inc. completed its 35,000th project during the past year.

The preparation of subdivision plans ranging from two-lot subdivisions to hundred-lot subdivisions has remained the staple of the firm's work.